About the Australia Viper 640 Class
The Viper 640 is a high-performance one-design sport boat
At 6.40 m and only 340 kg, it combines the stiffness of a keelboat with the acceleration and planing abilities of a dinghy. The Viper has a precise and exhilarating feel on the helm, a spacious cockpit for three people, strict one-design class rules and ease of launching by ramp or hoist.
More about the Viper 640 »
History
Rod Beurteaux and Chris O’Keefe imported the first container of Viper 640’s to Australia in 2009. Rod and Chris had moved from dinghies into small keelboats and, while enjoying the competition, they missed the excitement of dinghy sailing. They decided life is too short and, if they were to sail small keelboats, they would sail fast ones! Rod traveled through three continents combining business trips with a search for the best 20’ sport boat. He was looking a boat that was:
- Strict one design
- Exciting to sail
- Simple to rig and sail
- Had a reputable builder
- Was reasonably priced.
Only the Viper 640 ticked all the boxes. The Viper is ideally suited to Australian conditions. It has proven to be very competitive in the Australian sports boat fleet, winning most of the regattas it has entered. With fleets in Sydney, Queensland, and Western Australia, it’s an exciting time and the right time to get involved in Viper sailing.
Viper 640 International Regattas
Sailing the Viper 640 enables competitors to travel to some of the best regatta sites in the world. Australian crews have competed successfully in Miami Sailing Week in Florida, Long Beach, CA, Bermuda, Larchmont, NY, Marblehead, and also in the biannual European regatta in Lake Garda, Italy. An ongoing selection of bucket-list sailing destinations is planned for future World Championships.
